Kings hold off United for season-opening win

By Matt McQuade

Result: Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings 79 Melbourne United 74

Stats that matter: Kings 44% FG (30/68); Rebound count Kings 47 United 41; Kings 20 assists; Kings 40 points in the paint

Kings MVP: Jaylen Adams. Whenever he was on the floor, Sydney’s offence flowed.

Turning Point: Sydney’s 11-2 run midway through the second period turned the game in their favour.

The game was over when: Shaun Bruce iced it with a pair of clutch free throws.

Trending in the right direction: Biwali Bayles brought great energy and tenacity in his first official NBL game.

The Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings have opened their NBL22 campaign with a hard-fought 79-74 victory over defending NBL champions Melbourne United on Sunday afternoon at Qudos Bank Arena.

The purple and gold led by as much as 21 points in the third quarter and looked to be cruising to a comfortable win before United methodically launched a fightback on the back of some full court defence and timely baskets, putting the big opening night crowd of 8,632 at the Q on the edge of their seats.

Melbourne sliced the margin to just three points with 32 seconds remaining on a score from Mason Peatling (nine points, eight rebounds), and when Sydney import floor leader Jaylen Adams (15 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals) missed a triple with 11 seconds left, United had a chance to send the game into overtime.

Fortunately for the good guys, Shae Ili was short on a tough contested three with four seconds on the clock, Adams grabbed the rebound, and with United forced into a quick fouling situation, the Kings got the ball to Shaun Bruce, who calmly nailed a pair of clutch free throws that sent Sydney to their seventh straight home W over United.

“It wasn’t the prettiest offensive game by any stretch, but I was pleased with the way our guys came out and competed,” said a relieved Kings Head Coach Chase Buford.

“We guarded from the opening tip pretty well; we rebounded the ball well which we wanted to do.”

“Again, the offence will get better, but I’m proud of our guys. They gutted it out and found a way to get it done.”

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The visitors led 20-17 after a tight opening period where the returning Brad Newley (six points, seven rebounds) hit a couple of threes and Melbourne big man Jo Lual-Acuil (12 points, seven rebounds) was a menacing presence early.

But the Kings started to turn the screws defensively in the second quarter, collapsing the middle and daring a United squad missing Chris Goulding to beat them from the outside, which proved problematic.

Next Star Makur Maker (nine points, four rebounds) played some quality minutes and both Adams and RJ Hunter (12 points, six rebounds) started to find their groove, and Sydney’s 22-10 quarter gave them a 39-30 lead at the main break.

Sydney kept the pressure on to start the third quarter, with monster jams from Xavier Cooks (10 points, eight rebounds, six assists) and Jarell Martin (12 points, eight rebounds, three assists) propelling the home team on a 16-4 run that pushed the lead out beyond 20 with a little more than four minutes gone.

But Melbourne cranked up their defensive intensity and began to grind their way back into the ballgame, forcing several Kings turnovers with superstar Matthew Dellavedova (nine points, six assists, two steals) leading the charge.

Suddenly, Sydney’s offence dried up as Melbourne forced the Kings into a halfcourt struggle, and United had life with one quarter remaining, trailing 64-52 after it seemed like they would get blown out of the gym.

Led by five points from Biwali Bayles (seven points), who was sensational on debut, Sydney kept Melbourne at arm’s length until the midway point of the final period, leading by 10 points and finally looking like they were about to put the game away.

But United weren’t done, launching another late run to try and steal an unlikely win. Fortunately for the home fans, the comeback bid fell just short, and the entire stadium let out a huge sigh of relief once the result was secured.

Sydney’s depth proved a major advantage in the ballgame, with the reserves contributing important minutes, particularly Maker and Bayles, who were excellent in their NBL debut.

“They were both terrific,” Coach Buford said of his young guns.

“Both of them at different moments of the game helped turned the tide for us.”

“MK in the first half – he had a couple of offensive rebounds, a putback and a three in the corner, and he just gave us a little momentum, gave us a little cushion that we never relinquished.”

“Biwali made some really big plays and played with composure – I pulled him aside and told him that we needed a really solid last stint from him; come in, be smart, solid and take care of the ball and he did all those things.”

Sydney shot the ball at 44% from the field, were 9 of 32 from three-point range and were 10 of 13 from the free throw line in their season-opening victory. The team finished with 20 assists and outrebounded Melbourne 47-41.

One down. And Sydney faces another blockbuster confrontation in Round Two, with the Illawarra Hawks and Brian Goorjian coming into Qudos Bank Arena next Saturday night. Tickets are available via Ticketek.

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BRYDENS LAWYERS SYDNEY KINGS 79 (Adams 15, Hunter 12, Martin 12)
MELBOURNE UNITED 74 (Lual-Acuil 12, Agada 11, Okwera 10) at Qudos Bank Arena.

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